As we look back to that very first post, we are struck by how different things were ... way back then.

OK, we know 2011 isn’t ancient history and we realize that 36 months isn’t much time compared with the 100-plus years of Arizona’s transportation history, but if you join us today as we reminisce (isn’t that what birthdays are all about?), we think you’ll see what we mean.

We can’t leave out US 89. Back when the ADOT Blog started, the now landslide-damaged road was still operational and would be for another 22 months.

What other big transportation changes/accomplishments have occurred since the start of the ADOT Blog? Let’s take a look back at some of our top project-related blog posts:

Improvements to SR 87, a major link between the metro Phoenix area and Payson, were completed in 2011. Remember this blog post and video?

Just about six months after a fiery crash damaged the Mescal Road/J-Six Ranch Road Bridge in March 2011, ADOT swiftly rebuilt the bridge to reconnect the Cochise County communities of Mescal and J-Six Ranch, which were separated by I-10 and depend on the overpass for convenient access to goods, services and neighbors. Who could forget this amazing video of the bridge demo?

There’s more and we could keep looking back over the past three years and 500 posts, but we’re ready to move ahead. So stay tuned – we have so many more updates, videos and articles all planned for the future. We’re excited for the next 500 posts and can’t wait to see what the roads look like three years from now.